WO2007070037B1 - Concentrate level sensing - Google Patents

Concentrate level sensing

Info

Publication number
WO2007070037B1
WO2007070037B1 PCT/US2005/045129 US2005045129W WO2007070037B1 WO 2007070037 B1 WO2007070037 B1 WO 2007070037B1 US 2005045129 W US2005045129 W US 2005045129W WO 2007070037 B1 WO2007070037 B1 WO 2007070037B1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
concentrate
fluid conduit
recited
pump
amount
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2005/045129
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2007070037A1 (en
Inventor
James J Minard
Mark E Bush
Original Assignee
Carrier Commerical Refrigerati
James J Minard
Mark E Bush
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Carrier Commerical Refrigerati, James J Minard, Mark E Bush filed Critical Carrier Commerical Refrigerati
Priority to PCT/US2005/045129 priority Critical patent/WO2007070037A1/en
Priority to US12/091,215 priority patent/US9016519B2/en
Priority to CA002628185A priority patent/CA2628185A1/en
Publication of WO2007070037A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007070037A1/en
Publication of WO2007070037B1 publication Critical patent/WO2007070037B1/en
Priority to US14/697,667 priority patent/US9753464B2/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
    • G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
    • G05D9/00—Level control, e.g. controlling quantity of material stored in vessel
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F04—POSITIVE - DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS FOR LIQUIDS OR ELASTIC FLUIDS
    • F04B—POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS
    • F04B7/00—Piston machines or pumps characterised by having positively-driven valving
    • F04B7/04—Piston machines or pumps characterised by having positively-driven valving in which the valving is performed by pistons and cylinders coacting to open and close intake or outlet ports
    • F04B7/06—Piston machines or pumps characterised by having positively-driven valving in which the valving is performed by pistons and cylinders coacting to open and close intake or outlet ports the pistons and cylinders being relatively reciprocated and rotated
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/0015—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being prepared by mixing at least two liquid components
    • B67D1/0021—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught the beverage being prepared by mixing at least two liquid components the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
    • B67D1/08—Details
    • B67D1/10—Pump mechanism

Abstract

A beverage system includes a pump that draws a set mount of a flavored concentrate into a mixing chamber through a conduit for mixing with water to form a beverage. A sensor detects when the amount of the flavored concentrate in the conduit or in the container is low or out. The sensor includes two wings each including a recessed surface that together defines a circular space. A portion of the conduit is received in the circular space. Each of the wings includes an ultrasonic potion that emits ultrasonic waves that are non-intrusive. When the amount of flavored concentrate in the conduit is low, air bubbles are generated in the flow along the conduit and/or a vacuum is created in the conduit to draw the conduit away from the recessed surface. The ultrasonic waves detect either of these two features, indicating that the amount of the flavored concentrate is low.

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 11 June 2007 (11.06.2007)
1. A concentrate system comprising: a fluid conduit, wherein concentrate flows from a concentrate container to a pump along the fluid conduit; and an ultrasonic sensor that generates ultrasonic waves to detect the concentrate in the fluid conduit and to detect when an amount of the concentrate in the fluid conduit is below a threshold value, wherein the ultrasonic sensor is located between the concentrate container and the pump.
2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic sensor includes two wing portions each including a recessed portion that together define a space, wherein the fluid conduit is received in the space.
3. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the fluid conduit is plastic.
4. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein air bubbles form in the concentrate in the fluid conduit when the amount of the concentrate in the fluid conduit reduces below the threshold value, and the ultrasonic sensor detects the air bubbles to indicate that the amount of the concentrate in the fluid conduit is below the threshold value.
5. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein a vacuum in the fluid conduit causes the fluid conduit to cave inwardly and disengage from the ultrasonic sensor when the amount of the concentrate in the fluid conduit is below the threshold value to indicate that the amount of the concentrate in the fluid conduit is below the threshold value.
6. The system as recited in claim 1 further including the pump that controls a flow of the concentrate into a mixing chamber.
7. The system as recited in claim 6 further including a water source and a water line, wherein the water line provides water from the water source and into the mixing chamber to mix with the concentrate to form a beverage.
8. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein the pump includes a piston moveable by a motor to draw the concentrate into a mixing chamber, a pump head including a pump head piston opening that receives the piston and a pump head water port, and an adapter plate including an adapter plate piston opening that receives the piston and a water opening that receives the pump head water port of the pump head.
9. The system as recited in claim 8 further including a locking ring that secures the adapter plate to the pump head.
10. The system as recited in claim 1 further including a controller, wherein the controller shuts down the pump when the ultrasonic sensor detects that the amount of the concentrate in the fluid conduit is below the threshold value.
11. A concentrate system comprising: a concentrate container containing a concentrate; a fluid conduit, wherein the concentrate flows from the concentrate container to a pump along the fluid conduit; an ultrasonic sensor that generates ultrasonic waves to detect the concentrate in the fluid conduit and to detect when an amount of the concentrate in the fluid conduit is below a threshold value; the pump that controls a flow of the concentrate into a mixing chamber, wherein the ultrasonic sensor is located between the concentrate container and the pump; and a controller, wherein the controller shuts down the pump when the ultrasonic sensor detects that the amount of the concentrate in the fluid conduit is below the threshold value.
13
12. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein the ultrasonic sensor includes two wing portions each including a recessed portion that together define a space, wherein the fluid conduit is received in the space.
13. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein the fluid conduit is plastic.
14. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein air bubbles form in the concentrate in the fluid conduit when the amount of the concentrate in the fluid conduit reduces below the threshold value, and the ultrasonic sensor detects the air bubbles to indicate that the amount of the concentrate in the fluid conduit is below the threshold value.
15. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein a vacuum in the fluid conduit causes the fluid conduit to cave inwardly and disengage from the ultrasonic sensor when the amount of the concentrate in the fluid conduit is below the threshold value to indicate that the amount of the concentrate in the fluid conduit is below the threshold value.
16. The system as recited in claim 15 further including a water source and a water line, wherein the water line provides water from the water source and into the mixing chamber to mix with the concentrate to form a beverage.
17. The system as recited in claim 11 wherein the pump includes a piston moveable by a motor to draw the concentrate into a mixing chamber, a pump head including a pump head piston opening that receives the piston and a pump head water port, and an adapter plate including an adapter plate piston opening that receives the piston and a water opening that receives the pump head water port of the pump head.
18. The system as recited in claim 17 further including a locking ring that secures the adapter plate to the pump head.
14
PCT/US2005/045129 2005-12-12 2005-12-12 Concentrate level sensing WO2007070037A1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2005/045129 WO2007070037A1 (en) 2005-12-12 2005-12-12 Concentrate level sensing
US12/091,215 US9016519B2 (en) 2005-12-12 2005-12-12 Concentrate level sensing
CA002628185A CA2628185A1 (en) 2005-12-12 2005-12-12 Concentrate level sensing
US14/697,667 US9753464B2 (en) 2005-12-12 2015-04-28 Concentrate level sensing

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2005/045129 WO2007070037A1 (en) 2005-12-12 2005-12-12 Concentrate level sensing

Related Child Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/091,215 A-371-Of-International US9016519B2 (en) 2005-12-12 2005-12-12 Concentrate level sensing
US14/697,667 Continuation US9753464B2 (en) 2005-12-12 2015-04-28 Concentrate level sensing

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007070037A1 WO2007070037A1 (en) 2007-06-21
WO2007070037B1 true WO2007070037B1 (en) 2007-08-02

Family

ID=38163227

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2005/045129 WO2007070037A1 (en) 2005-12-12 2005-12-12 Concentrate level sensing

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (2) US9016519B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2628185A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2007070037A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2628185A1 (en) * 2005-12-12 2007-06-21 Carrier Commercial Refrigeration, Inc. Concentrate level sensing
WO2010056664A1 (en) * 2008-11-11 2010-05-20 Cecilware Corporation Enhanced beverage dispenser
US20110232381A1 (en) * 2010-03-25 2011-09-29 Al-Absi Munir A System for monitoring liquid level in underground storage tank
ES2668914T3 (en) * 2014-01-03 2018-05-23 Koninklijke Douwe Egberts B.V. Method for putting into use an interchangeable supply container in a system and a beverage dispensing machine comprising an interchangeable supply container and a computer program product
EP2998016A1 (en) * 2014-09-17 2016-03-23 Fast&Fluid Management B.V. Assembly for and method of dispensing a liquid
DE102016222812A1 (en) 2016-11-18 2018-05-24 Wmf Group Gmbh Beverage preparer and method for controlling or regulating a beverage preparation
US10981771B2 (en) * 2016-12-29 2021-04-20 The Coca-Cola Company Sold out detection using a level sensor for a beverage dispenser
US20220333584A1 (en) * 2020-01-07 2022-10-20 The Coca-Cola Plaza Micro-nutating pump assembly

Family Cites Families (15)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3974681A (en) * 1973-10-23 1976-08-17 Jerry Namery Ultrasonic bubble detector
US4194650B2 (en) * 1977-02-14 1989-01-31 Liquid mixing and aerating system
US4624395A (en) * 1984-05-11 1986-11-25 Lykes Pasco Packing Co. Hot beverage dispensing machine
US4753370A (en) * 1986-03-21 1988-06-28 The Coca-Cola Company Tri-mix sugar based dispensing system
US4830511A (en) * 1986-10-29 1989-05-16 The Coca-Cola Company Postmix juice dispensing system
US5033644A (en) * 1989-03-31 1991-07-23 Tentler Michael L Precision dispensing of varying viscosity fluids in a prescribed mix ratio
US5741980A (en) * 1994-11-02 1998-04-21 Foster-Miller, Inc. Flow analysis system and method
US5688046A (en) * 1995-11-14 1997-11-18 Eastman Kodak Company Method and apparatus for mixing a container of concentrate with diluent from supply systems
US5697702A (en) * 1995-11-14 1997-12-16 Eastman Kodak Company Batch mixer and reservoir lid for a mixing tank
US5722017A (en) * 1996-10-04 1998-02-24 Xerox Corporation Liquid developing material replenishment system and method
GB9813192D0 (en) * 1998-06-18 1998-08-19 Imi Cornelius Uk Ltd Dispensing means
US6299020B1 (en) * 1999-10-22 2001-10-09 Lancer Partnership, Ltd. Beverage dispenser sensor system
US6932114B2 (en) * 2002-02-22 2005-08-23 Integrated Sensing Systems, Inc. Fluid delivery system and method
FI20040351A (en) * 2004-03-04 2005-09-05 Abb Oy Measurement method and device
CA2628185A1 (en) * 2005-12-12 2007-06-21 Carrier Commercial Refrigeration, Inc. Concentrate level sensing

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US9753464B2 (en) 2017-09-05
US20080272143A1 (en) 2008-11-06
CA2628185A1 (en) 2007-06-21
US9016519B2 (en) 2015-04-28
US20150248133A1 (en) 2015-09-03
WO2007070037A1 (en) 2007-06-21

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